Forcefield

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In its effort to further the objectives of Forcefield's non-agenda driven human rights, Forcefield has taken on, is helping to fund or build, or has proposed several specific projects and you can direct that your donation support that project primarily.

Human Rights Missions by Richard Benkin

Forcefield supports the work of Board Member Richard Benkin who has been making regular human rights trips to South Asia for several years. He has visited colonies of Bangladeshi Hindu refugees in various locations, most rather remote; and worked with activists, religious leaders, political leaders, communities, and others who are developing grass roots self-help programs, organizing, and trying to secure justice for the persecuted minorities of Bangladesh and stop their destruction by Islamists and "regular" citizens. He also addresses large public and small private audiences during these trips--from community squares to universities. Benkin also has documented the persecution and developed a network of first-hand informants on the ground. This has enabled him to verify allegations and gain a reputation for providing good, accurate information. He has then followed up with regular trips to Washington and regular speaking engagements in the United States. Several grass roots organizations have developed and continue to flourish in these areas, as well as in the Indian capital, in the wake of these trips. "Bangladesh's Hindus are being eliminated and no one cares. If we don't do something, nobody else will."

Documentary about the Bangladeshi Hindus

Forcefield Board Members Richard Benkin and Amitabh Tripathi have gotten technicians and even a well-known director in India to agree to make a documentary film about the Bangladeshi Hindus. They also have victims and victimizers, activists and bystanders who will testify in the film. There have been a few attempts to document the persecution but none have achieved any currency. This film will tell the story of a "quiet case of ethnic cleansing" in which millions have been brutalized or worse, and millions more await the same fate; yet, the world is silent. Our intent is to distribute the film in venues both commercial and otherwise, making enough people aware of what is happening to Bangladesh's minorities so that continued silence about it unsustainable. Everything needed to make and show the film has been arranged except for adequate funding.

Comic Book about the Bangladeshi Hindus

Comics (or "sequential art") have become one of the cutting edge artistic genres of our age. We have a professional sequential artist prepared to turn our vision and elements of the documentary into a medium designed to reach large populations that might not have access to the technology needed to run a documentary. The comic is a medium that can compliment the film and reach an entirely new audience in both South Asia and the West.

Jewish Studies Library at Indian university

Our colleague, Dr. Navras Jaat Aafreedi, is an Assistant Professor at Gautam Budda University in Greater Noida not far from New Delhi. Aafreedi, whose research on the Hebraic roots of the Pashtun has spurred further research and DNA testing, has been given the opportunity to start a library section on Jewish history and related subjects, including Israel. Forcefield has helped collect multiple boxes of new and used books and is funding its shipment to India. (Forcefield already has shipped two large boxes of books for this project.) We continue to solicit donations of books, CDs, and DVDs on Jewish or Israeli matters, as well as funds.

Documentary: "The Forgotten Refugees"

During a trip to India under Forcefield auspices and funding, Forcefield Board Member Miriam Guttman-Jones was struck by the conditions under which various refugees lived—especially the women who are doubly victimized. More than that, however, she was outraged by the lack of outside help or even recognition of their plight. She noted time and again how they had never even heard of the United Nations, so lacking was any UN assistance. She determined to do something about it, which led to a proposed documentary: “The Forgotten Refugees.” The film will follow the lives of five different refugee women and document the lack of basics like health care, sanitary provisions, and even basic protections. The refugees face violence, intimidation, and rape that are all part of what Forcefield co-founder has called “a quiet case of ethnic cleansing.” Miriam is gathering professionals to assist her in helping these “forgotten refugees,” and will be looking for funding through Forcefield, which supports the project.

Forcefield is recognized by the United States government as a not-for-profit corporation, and all donations to it are fully tax deductible.